Connection means for establishing connection between a windshield wiper arm unit and a blade unit



July 23, 1968 R. H. WISE 3,393,421

CONNECTION MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING CONNECTION BETWEEN A WINDSHIELD WIPERARM UNIT AND A BLADE UNIT Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1mvnw'ron. l// RALPH H. WISE ATTORNEY July 23, 1968 R. H. WISE 3,393,421

CONNECTION MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING CONNECTION BETWEEN A WINDSHIELD WIPERARM UNIT AND A BLADE UNIT Original Filed Dec 29, 1954 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2IO f 7 3 rr 20 19 i8 24 ,5

-22 r5 1s 8 v e x INVENTOR. RALPH H. WISE M I "Ling 7,11

ATTORNEY United States Patent lice Claims. 01. -25013 This applicationis a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 17,722 filed Nov.9, 1959, which is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 478,284filed Dec. 29, 1954, both now abandoned.

The invention relates generally to windshield wiper apparatus and moreparticularly is directed to means for establishing a connection betweenawiper arm and a blade therefor.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedform of'con-nection means between a wiper arm and a blade so that theblade will readily conform or accommodate itself to a windshield of thesocalled wrap-around .type. More specifically in this respect, theconnection means is of such a character that'the blade willautomatically adjust itself to the arm and tothe windshield as the bladetravels across the frontal and side portions of the windshield. Theblade in adjusting itself to the curvature of the windshield will becaused to pivot or swing in one direction with respect to the arm as thearm moves outwardly and rearwardly around the side, wing or offsetportion of the windshield and then pivot or swing in a reverse directionwhen the blade moves back and around to the frontal portion, all ofwhich serves to permit the blade to wipe a greater area of thewindshield. In other words, the invention serves to increase and controlthe area wiped by the blade on the wing portion of the windshield asdistinguished from a conventional connection means which would at leastallow a portion of the blade to slide off the wing portion as the bladeoscillates thereon.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel assembly orconnection means which, among other things, includes a housing orfitting provided with a track, guideway or seat, an entering part seatedin the guideway, and means for holding the entering part in theguideway.The housing is preferably mounted on the wiper blade unit constituting acomponent of the assembly and the entering part is preferably carried bythe wiperarm unit constituting another component of the assembly. Moreparticularly, the guideway is curved in two directions and provided witha conical surface and the entering part is similarly curved to conformto the seat.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an assembly in whichthe guideway and entering part are so designed and constructed that theblade may automatically tilt as it pivots with respect to the arm inorder to maintain the blade in an erect or substantially normalperpendicular position to the surface being wiped so that the blade willproperly flop during its wiping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the kindabove referred to which is comprised of a minimum number of parts orcomponents which can be economically manufactured and assembled on aproduction line basis.

Other attributes of the invention reside in its simplicity of design andconstruction, durability, and efiiciency in operation.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentafter the description hereinafter set forth 3,393,421 Patented July 23,

2 is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings: 1 t v FIGURE 1 is a view showing a wiper arm unit and ablade unit embodying the invention with the blade and arm located withrespect to a windshield of the wraparound type for the purpose ofexemplifying the utility of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated inFIGURE 1; y

FIGURE 2a is a view showing the normal operating position of the wiperblade on the windshield;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section taken through one of the componentsof the connection means with another of the components operativelyconnected with the first component;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating the relationship ofthe components of the connection means when the blade is traversing theside portion of the windshield;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the position of thecomponents when the blade is traveling across the side portion of thewindshield; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the entering part carried by the wiperarm.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, thewindshield may be constructed in various shapes, but as illustratedcomprises a frontal portion 1 and a rearwardly extending wing or offsetportion 2. A drive shaft 3 operated by a motor, not shown, is locatedadjacent the junction between the frontal and wing portions of thewindshield. A wiper arm unit has an inner section 4 connected to thedrive shaft and an outer section 5 has its inner end pivotally connectedto the inner section and an outer end detachably connected to a wiperblade unit 6. Resilient biasing means, not shown, are provided forurging the wiper arm and blade carried thereby toward the windshield.

The wiper blade unit is a type currently in use for wiping fiat and/ orcurved Windshields and includes a wiping element having a wiping edge 7and an elongate suppor structure 8 for the element.

The subject matter of the present invention is primarily directed to aconnection means which serves to operatively connect the wiper arm unitwith the blade unit. More particularly in this regard, the connectionmeans includes a component generally designated 9 preferably carried bythe structure 8 of the blade unit and a component generally designated10, carried by the wiper arm unit.

The component 9 carried by the wiper blade and illustrated in thedrawing includes an elongate housing or fitting carried by a member 11of the support structure 8 of the blade unit. The housing has side walls12 and end walls 13 preferably provided with lugs 14 extending throughapertures 15 provided in the member 11 for attaching the housingthereto. A block 16 of a suitable material, such as nylon, is located inthe housing and the upper side of the block is preferably provided witha groove 17, constituting a guide means, track, or guideway. The grooveis curved in one direction, preferably toward the wiping edge of thewiper element as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 and is also curved in anotherdirection in a plane substantially transverse to the wiping edge of thewiper element as exemplified in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. OtherwiseeXpressed, the component 9 or connector on the blade unit is providedwith guide means, a track, or a guideway which is curved at least in twodifferent directions. One of these directions is substantiallyperpendicular to the surface to be wiped as illustrated in FIGURE 3 andin another direction substantially parallel to the surface to be wipedas shown in FIGURE 5. The use of the term guide means, track or guidewayis intended to include the structure shown and any formation orformations which are provided on one or more parts or portions of acomponent or connector carried by either the wiper arm unit or the wiperblade unit. In other words, the use of such terms is not limited to agroove in the block shown.

The housing of the connector or component 9 also preferably includes atop wall having a portion 18 adjacent one extremity of the housing, aportion 19 adjacent the other extremity of the housing and a curvedportion 20 therebetween which substantially conforms to the curvature ofthe guideway. The portion 18 of the top wall is provided with agenerally rectangular opening 21 for obtaining access to the guideway.As further exemplified in FIGURES 3, 4 and of the drawing, the guidewayis generally rectangular in cross section and the base wall of thegroove is preferably inclined or is provided with what may be termed aconical surface 22, the purpose of which will be explained more indetail subsequently. It can be stated that the connector is providedwith a compound curve.

The other component of the connection means is carried by the wiper armunit and is preferably made in the form of an entering part 23 which iscurved in a manner to substantially correspond with the curvature orshape of the guideway of the component 9 carried by the wiper bladeunit. More specifically in this respect, the entering part is preferablymade in the form of a hook which is curved in a direction toward thewiping edge of the wiping element as shown in FIGURE 3 and also in adirection substantially transverse to the wiping edge of said element.Expressed in another way, the entering part is curved in a planecorresponding substantially to the fore-and-aft movement of the wiperarm and also is curved in a direction corresponding substantially to thedirection that the wiper arm travels as it oscillates back and forthacross the windshield. It will be noted that the entering part is alsoformed so that it is at least provided with a lower conical surface 24which cooperates with the groove or guideway. The cross-sectionaldimensions of the entering part are preferably slightly less than thecross-sectional dimensions of the guideway so as to control, withinpractical limits, the relative movement between the components of theconnection means. To assemble the components it is merely necessary toinsert the entering part through the opening 21 in the housing so thatthe entering part is seated in the guideway.

Referring now to the arrangement illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 of thedrawing, the invention affords a setup whereby controlled relativemovement may automatically take place between the Wiper arm unit and theblade unit so that as the arm is oscillated by the drive shaft, theblade will wipe the unshaded area indicated by numeral 25 in FIGURE 2.When the blade is in a parked position the blade will automatically takean angular position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wiperarm and as the arm and blade are driven to the left, as viewed in FIGURE2, the blade will gradually pivot and assume a greater angularity withrespect to the wiper arm at an intermediate dotted-line position 26, andas the blade moves outwardly and rearwardly on the wing portion 2 of thewindshield the angularity of the blade unit will increase as indicatedat the dotted-line position 27. During this movement of the blade acrossthe windshield, the blade will also tilt so that the blade will benormally maintained in an erect or substantially perpendicular positionwith respect to the surface to be wiped as shown in FIGURES 2 and 2a, inorder that the blade may properly flop to obtain the proper wipingaction and at the same time prevent any metal parts of the blade unitfrom engaging the glass. In other words, there is a normalizing movementof the blade in a predetermined path for each increment of relativemotion between the blade and arm. The conical surface of the guideway orguide means and the shape of the entering part serve to impart thedesired tilting action or relative movement between the wiper arm andblade as the blade moves across the windshield, particularly as theblade approaches the wing portion or is in engagement therewith. It willbe noted in FIGURE 1 that the arm and blade carried thereby moverearwardly a distance indicated by numeral 28 and forwardly the samedistance when they move from the parked full-line position to theextreme left dotted-line position and return to said parked position.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. An oscillatory windshield wiper assembly adapted for use on curvedwindow surfaces comprising, a wiper blade support structure having amounting section adapted for connection to a drive shaft with saidsupport structure extending generally radially thereof and a bladesupport section carried by said mounting section for a predeterminednormalizing movement relative to said mounting section in apredetermined path for each increment of relative motion between saidsections, and means for urging said blade support section toward anassociated window surface for determining the extent of normalizingmovement in said path in accord with said surface.

2. An oscillatory windshield wiper assembly adapted for use on curvedwindow surfaces comprising, a wiper blade support arm having a mountingsection adapted for connection to a drive shaft with said support armextending generally radially thereof, and a wiper blade carried by saidarm for a predetermined normalizing movement relative to said arm in apredetermined path for each increment of relative motion between saidarm and said blade, and means for urging said wiper blade toward anassociated window surface for determining the extent of normalizingmovement in said path in accord with said surface.

3. An oscillatory windshield wiper assembly for use on curved windshieldsurfaces comprising, a wiper blade support arm having a mounting sectionadapted for connection to a drive shaft with said support arm extendinggenerally radially therefrom for oscillatory movement and to be urgedtoward a windshield surface, a wiper blade, and means interconnectingthe wiper blade and arm, said interconnecting means permitting relativeangular movement of the blade relative to the arm as the arm oscillatesacross a curved windshield, said interconnecting means being arranged toeffect a predetermined increment of normalizing movement of the wiperblade about its own longitudinal axis for each increment of said angularmovement between the wiper blade and the arm.

4. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein saidinterconnecting means comprises a curved member on one of said wiperblade and arm, and a fitting on the other of said wiper blade and armhaving a recess arranged to receive the curved member.

5. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said curvedmember is on the arm and said fitting is on the wiper blade.

6. In a windshield wiper assembly, an arm and a blade, a fitting carriedby the blade and provided with guide means curved both in one directiontoward the longitudinal axis of the blade and in another directiontransverse to said longitudinal axis of the blade, said guide meansslidably receiving an entering part of said windshield wiper arm ofcorresponding curvature for pivoting the blade about an axis generallytransverse to the longitudinal axis of the wiper blade and tilting theblade about its longitudinal axis in a predetermined path for eachincrement of pivotal movement so as to maintain the blade substantiallynormal to the surface being wiped.

7. A windshield wiper blade provided with a fitting for receivingpressure from a wiper arm for forcing the blade toward a surface to bewiped, said blade comprising a resilient wiper element having a wipingedge and an elongate support for the element, said fitting beingprovided with guide means having an inclined surface which is bothcurved in a direction substantially corresponding to the direction offorce exerted by the wiper arm and in a direction substantiallytransverse to the direction of said force, said guide means beingadapted to slidably receive a windshield wiper arm part having a surfacecorresponding to and engaging the first mentioned surface for pivotingthe blade about an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis ofthe wiper blade and tilting the blade about its longitudinal axis in apredetermined path for each increment of pivotal movement so as tomaintain the blade substantially normal to the surface being wiped.

8. In combination: an assembly comprising a windshield wiper arm unitand a blade unit, a fitting carried by one of the units, said fittingbeing provided with guide means having a conical surface, and the otherof the units being provided with an entering part slidably disposed inthe guide means and having a surface corresponding to and engaging thefirst mentioned surface in a manner whereby the blade unit haspredetermined normalizing movement relative to the arm unit in apredetermined path for each increment of movement between said blade andarm units when the assembly is installed adjacent a windshield and theblade transverse a curved surface thereof.

9. A windshield wiper arm provided with an entering part having aconical surface for engagement with a mating surface of a fitting of awiper blade to permit the blade to normalize relative to the arm in apredetermined path for each increment of relative angular movementbetween the arm and blade so as to maintain the blade substantiallyerect with respect to the surface of a curved windshield.

10. A windshield wiper blade provided with a fitting including a conicalsurface to receive a mating surface of a windshield wiper arm to permitthe blade to normalize'relative to the arm in a predetermined path foreach increment of angular relative motion between the longitudinal axesof said arm and said blade when said blade is urged toward an associatedwindshield surface for determining the extent of normalizing movement ofsaid blade in accord with said surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,274,277 2/ 1942 Rousseau et a115-250.33 FOREIGN PATENTS 908,402 9/ 1945 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. AN OSCILLATORY WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ADAPTED FOR USE ON CURVEDWINDOW SURFACES COMPRISING, A WIPER BLADE SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING AMOUNTING SECTION ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A DRIVE SHAFT WITH SAIDSUPPORT STRUCTURE EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY THEREOF AND A BLADESUPPORT SECTION CARRIED BY SAID MOUNTING SECTION FOR A PREDETERMINEDNORMALIZING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID MOUNTING SECTION IN APREDETERMINED PATH FOR EACH INCREMENT OF